Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jun 29: Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic stampede during the Rath Yatra in Puri, calling it a stark reminder of the critical need for robust security and crowd management at major religious gatherings.

Terming the incident "extremely tragic", Gandhi conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. In a post on X, he wrote, “The stampede incident during the Rath Yatra in Puri is extremely tragic. I express my deep condolences to the bereaved families and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured devotees.”

He also called on the Odisha government to ramp up relief efforts and urged Congress workers to assist affected families. Criticising the BJP-led Odisha government, Gandhi added, “This tragedy is a serious warning – for such large events, security arrangements and crowd management preparations must be taken seriously and thoroughly reviewed. Protecting lives is paramount, and no lapses in this responsibility are acceptable.”

The stampede, which occurred between 4:00 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. on Sunday, claimed the lives of at least three devotees and left several others injured. Six people were reportedly under medical care at the time of reporting.

Following the incident, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi issued an apology to the devotees and ordered an immediate inquiry into the apparent lapses in security and crowd control mechanisms.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also reacted strongly, describing the mishap as a consequence of “negligence and mismanagement.” Taking to X, he said, “The State Government and authorities must conduct a thorough investigation into the grave lapses that caused this incident. Ensuring public safety and effective crowd management is paramount, especially during pre-planned festivities.”

Kharge added, “I am deeply pained by the stampede during the Mahaprabhu Jagannath Rath Yatra, which claimed three lives and injured at least 50 people. This tragedy follows reports of 500 devotees being injured on Friday during the yatra.”

Expressing solidarity with the victims’ families, he said the Congress party stands with the devotees and is committed to supporting all efforts aimed at delivering aid, medical support, and relief.

Both leaders have called for accountability, urging authorities to hold those responsible legally answerable for the loss of lives and injuries caused during the holy procession.